And yet somehow...somehow... life goes on.... 
Posted on 11/21/2005 4:53:21 AM PST by shortstop
Bob Woodward is one of the most admired reporters in the world, so it was particularly disappointing to learn that for two years he withheld important information about the CIA leak investigation that led to the indictment of Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
It appears Woodward may have been the first reporter to learn the identity of Valerie Plame, a former covert employee of the Central Intelligence Agency and wife of administration critic Joseph Wilson. Yet during special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's two-year investigation into whether Plame's identity had been revealed illegally, Woodward kept mum, except to criticize the prosecutor's work.
Like other Beltway reporters, he feared the case would chill the anonymous flow of information, which has become the rule rather than the exception in Washington.
The best-selling author, whose reporting for The Washington Post during the Watergate scandal three decades ago helped bring down a president and inspired countless young people to become journalists, let down his colleagues, editors and readers.
The first duty of a reporter is to tell people what's going on. On this, Woodward failed miserably. Instead of reporting the news, he hid it.
Woodward apologized, but his actions are hard to forgive, especially since he has shown that he is not the neutral observer he has famously tried to be.
He says he didn't talk because he didn't want to be subpoenaed; he had a source to protect. But what his actions reveal is that Woodward is willing to filter the news to ensure continued access to powerful people.
Woodward's long-held silence lends support to critics who say he has grown too chummy with power. He has become a Washington player rather than a Washington reporter. Newspaper readers have to wonder what else he's holding back.
Woodward needs to decide whether he's a book author or a newspaper reporter. So long as his ID card identifies him as the latter, his first responsibility is to telling readers the whole story.
The leadership of the Washington Post should know and demand better. Leonard Downie Jr., the paper's executive editor, has said Woodward should not have publicly criticized Fitzgerald and should have come forward sooner with what he knew.
But Downie also insists that Woodward had a noble purpose -- that in protecting his source, he was protecting the news-gathering process.
Maybe, but had Woodward talked with his editors, the news-gathering process on the Plame story may have changed. Had he talked, it might have affected prosecutor Fitzgerald's decision to indict.
Once again the nation has seen a star reporter run amok. Once again, the nation has seen how Beltway reporters operate under different standards from those at community newspapers. And once again, the nation has watched a good newspaper gamble its credibility on a franchise player.
Who ever accused him of that?
Does Woodward have a book coming out?
uh, the WashPost is a 'good newspaper'? Who knew?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the WP, NYT, CBS, NBC , ABC etc did the same?
And yet somehow...somehow... life goes on....
Had he talked, it might have affected prosecutor Fitzgerald's decision to indict.When the indictment is withdrawn it will be Woodwards fault. I wonder what their advisors are telling them about this that makes them so angry at Woodward? Whatever it is it isn't good.
More like Woodward failed to deliver for the left ... so far ... this time.
Merry Fitzmas Tampa Tribune, etal!
Woodward & Miller are like two members of the Capone mob who got 'enthusiasms'. They forgot that the MSM/DNC cabal was a 'team' effort... and once they started playing for themselves... they became 'bums'.
So many of the press seem themselfs as bigger than the story and have stoped reporting events but now feature how their extreme status is affected by the story.
As much as I loathe Woodward, he has more integrity than the editorial writers and news editors at the Tampa Tribune and every other MSM liberal rag combined.
Why should Woodward have to apologise? He didn't lie about anything? Woodward's silence means diddly-squat if he never was asked to testify...It means absolutely nothing!
I cannot resist. How many people knew Clinton was a rapist? Did NBC not have a duty to get the Myers piece on Juanita B. out as soon as possible so the public would know?
The MSM holds back tons of what they know if it will hurt Dems. Am I wrong?
"for two years he withheld important information about the CIA leak investigation that led to the indictment of Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby..."
"Had he talked, it might have affected prosecutor Fitzgerald's decision to indict."
This editorial briefly mentions the important ramifications of his keeping silent and then whines on about how Woodward must be too much of a Washington insider and author to be "one of them" anymore. The self-serving whine doesn't mention how Woodward's silence affected Libby and his life and family, the jurors, and the American people who had to pay for the investigation to continue longer than necessary.
I hope Fitzgerald charges Woodward with obstructing justice.
How about fining Woodward a few million dollars to cover expenses incurred because he didn't come forward 2 yrs ago?
You are absolutely correct. They direct WHAT news we are supposed to see. A shady, mentally ill, dumb***k claims GWB didn't serve enough National Guard duty. The MSM runs with it as front page news with dozens of follow ups 3 times withing the course of 2 years.
Clinton Raped Juanita? NO follow ups. Filegate? Neglibible coverage. John Kerry's fraudulent military service? The 200 swiftboat vets are all liars. Etc etc.
The Tampa Tribune and most other MSM editorialists are traitors and liars.
Enough of the media's concern with their own navel. . Woodward - protecting his self-interests only; co-opted Justice here. . .by his silence, he aided and abetted this 'conspiracy' to bring down a President.
He watched in silence as Scooter Libby was indicted; and thought the most he had to do. . .was publicly, be dismissive of this taxpayer-funded investigation.
All the maneurverings of 'truth' were fine; as long as it was GW that was being targeted. Now that media is shown with egg on it's face; their credibility challenged; they are upset.
A credibility of course, that the MSM willing has given up so as to further agendas of their own and on behalf of the radical left -now DNC.
Woodward was NOT the first reporter to learn of Valerie Plame's identity. Unless Leslie Stahl is a liar when she appears on TV.
We hear so much about "The Watergate" read this ‘eye opener’ It may be true.
The Amendment is a political thriller, (by John Fitzgerald) regarding the most profound conspiracy in American history. Including the Watergate cover-up, the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, the oil embargo, the missing White House tapes, deep throat, President Nixon’s resignation and why it was all done through a change to the Constitution, the 25th Amendment!
"So many of the press seem themselfs as bigger than the story and have stoped reporting events but now feature how their extreme status is affected by the story."
It's and example of how the press create a story and become its central player.
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